The New Nostalgia

Heed those autumnal urges to reflect with new music from Jill Sobule and Amy Ray, plus fresh tracks from Roscoe & Etta, Lucy Spraggan, and more.

By Janelle Beck and Melany Joy Beck

Published: 2018.09.18 07:26 PM

Fall is almost upon us and it’s time for bonfires, cozy sweaters, and snuggling up with someone you love. Cue the following soundtrack of talented artists to warm up those crisp autumn nights and provide an opportunity to look back on the year’s best moments.

Jill Sobule is back on the scene with the September 14 release of her record Nostalgia Kills on Pinko Records. The album is a walk down memory lane for the singer who talks about break ups, the death of a parent, and moving through the lens of “exorcising some junior high demons,” Sobule says. She is hailed as a musical pioneer with her 1995 single “I Kissed a Girl” being the first song ever to hit the Billboard Top 20 about same-sex attraction. Not to mention the iconic song “Supermodel” which will forever be associated with the cult favorite film Clueless.

“I Don’t Wanna Wake Up” is the first single from the record and was written after a break up while micro dosing on mushrooms. A bold single and accompanying video solidifies Sobule’s place as one of the most innovative artists of her generation.

Lucy & La Mer is the indie pop project by Los Angeles singer-songwriter Lucy LaForge. Lucy & LaMer has made waves since forming with a number of high-profile gigs and recently landed a spot as part of a Dove campaign. They are known for their colorful stage presence and activism for the LGBTQ community.

Their new single “Got That Thing” is an homage to online dating as a bisexual woman, a theme some of our readers may know a thing or two about. The video is an entertaining romp through the ups and downs of online romance and the song is a catchy delight to kick off fall.

Amy Ray

Source: Instagram

Amy Ray is basically a lesbian household name. Known for her work as one half of The Indigo Girls, Ray is releasing a much-anticipated solo album September 28 entitled HOLLER. The fourteen-song LP plays host to a number of high profile guest appearances including Brandi Carlile, Vince Gill, Justin Vernon, and more. According to Ray, the album is inspired by traditional country, Southern rock, mountain music, gospel, and bluegrass. The album will cover a variety of topics ranging from late nights, love, addiction, immigration, growing up in the South, and touring for decades.

Check out a preview of the album below, and stay tuned for the release at the end of September.

Roscoe & Etta

Source: Instagram

Roscoe & Etta is the new project of Maia Sharp and Anna Schulze, both established singer-songwriters in their own right. Roscoe & Etta are the names of both their respective guitars and their debut record, out September 7. They began writing together after meeting at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles. The first single off the record is “Broken Headlights,” an introspective tune and a good soundtrack to a night drive while pondering love and loss. Their voices are a perfect compliment to one another and this album is a definite must-have.

Lucy Whittaker

Rising UK pop star Lucy Whittaker has already gained steam overseas for her brand of electro-pop and landed spots playing with Clean Bandit, Craig David, and Anne Marie. Her newest single “Who’s Gonna Know” ft. Yizzy is sure to be a hit. It has all of the elements of a dance club success, a catchy chorus, driving beat, and sing-with-your-friends hook. Keep an eye on Whittaker and spin this track next time you are getting ready to hit the town.

Lucy Spraggan

Lucy Spraggan is another UK import, currently touring the United States in anticipation of her new album due out in 2019. She is an established artist on the UK scene and in addition to rocking the stage she is a devoted foster mom to underprivileged youth with her wife Georgina. Devoting her platform to activism is not new to Spraggan, and her newest single “Stick the Kettle On” featuring Scouting For Girls is a moving single made in support of The Calm Zone the UK Campaign Against Living Miserably, a charity committed to helping prevent male suicide. Check her out live when she comes to a city near you.